Amos - A Neo-Assyrian Prophet

The Amazing Bible. Book Club

Amos was a shepherd from Judah, whom God sent to Israel, to declare the day of the Lord. The king of Israel was Jeroboam II and the king of Judah was Uzziah, and Amos saw what was going to happen to Israel because of their sin of social injustice and idolatry. It starts off with judgment to the nations around Israel, then 2:4 it says, "This is what the Lord says, 'For three sins of Judah, even for four, I will not turn back my wrath because...' of idolatry. It was king Solomon that began idolatry in Judah, and they too will reap what they have sown. The rest of the book focused on the sin of Israel, and the Lord told them, "Prepare to meet your God" (4:12). As is the case with the Lord, the purpose of this declaration was also a hope that they would repent and turn back to the Lord. Instead of false worship, he desired justice and righteousness from the people. Amos saw a vision of swarming locust, and Amos pleaded with the Lord, and the Lord relented. Then the next vision was by fire, and again Amos pleaded for mercy, and the Lord relented. Then there was a plumbline, and the Lord said, Israel had crossed it. At the end of chapter 7 there is a little story of the priest at Bethel, Amaziah, but we don't know what kind of a priest. He told Amos to quit speaking and go home, and Amos said he and his family will suffer, and Israel will go into exile. The last vision was a basket of ripe fruit, and "The time is ripe for My people Israel. I will spare them no longer." YET, verse 8, "Yet, I will not totally destroy the house of Jacob, declares the Lord." The Lord will replant Israel in their own land.